Greenbelt sell-off threatens views

THREATENED: This picturesque section of greenbelt along Takitimu Drive could be lost to housing. PHOTO/GEORGE NOVAK

A picturesque greenbelt bordering Takitimu Drive is threatened by Tauranga City Council's push to reduce its debt burden.

Residents fearful about the impact of council plans to sell multiple parcels of land adjoining the motorway have united to stop the sale of a 2200sq m block beside their homes at the end of 4th Ave.

The block is part of a reserve-like stretch of land that the council wants to sell between Takitimu Drive and the base of the avenues, from 4th to 8th Ave.

A resident of 4th Ave, Brett Noble, said the beautiful stretch of greenbelt beside a motorway to downtown and Mount Maunganui could end up covered with houses.

"Why throw this away? This is the greenbelt to the CBD - it needs to be extended, not removed."

Mayor Stuart Crosby said Mr Noble made a valid argument. It was a balance between retaining the land as a greenbelt and selling because it was non-strategic land.

Asked about how much debt pressure the council would be under once the Government took over the $62.5 million Route K debt, he said the key financial indicator of the ratio of debt to revenue would drop to 180 per cent - a drop from the council's self-imposed limit of 250 per cent.

Mr Crosby said the council was keen to keep the ratio below 200 per cent but would be under pressure from infrastructure needed to service growth.

One of the people most upset by the sale of the 4th Ave block was Barry Coghlan, whose house overlooked the land, giving him unimpeded views to Mauao.

After due diligence to make sure there were no plans to impact on his views, the semi-retired engineer bought the house late last year. However, on the day they shifted in, a neighbour showed Mr Coghlan a council letter and said "do you realise what you have bought into".

The December 12 letter has put a big question mark around assurances given to him by the real estate agent and the council that nothing was happening that could put his views at risk. The residential zoning of the council's land meant building heights could reach nine metres.

Mr Coghlan said that when he challenged the council after seeing the letter, he was told that any buildings would not be in his viewshaft. He disagreed, saying it would be "smack in my viewshaft".

He hoped the issue could be settled with a lot less heartache and expense than going down the path of legal liability.

Quizzed on his grievance, the council's general manager of organisational services Jaine Lovell-Gadd said she was happy to meet Mr Coghlan to discuss his concerns. Property sales below the avenues were being considered on a case-by-case basis.

The 4th Ave residents have opposed the council's plan to sell a 700sq m area of unformed legal road adjoining the 1500sq m block comprising 121 and 127 4th Ave. The unformed road was needed to access the two lots.